Bolton Wanderers had competition for the signature of Welsh international Gary Speed with the players agent Hayden Evans confirming that five other clubs including three from the Premiership had all expressed a desire to move for the former Leeds and Everton player.
Speed was reluctant to leave Newcastle United after nearly six and a half years on Tyneside but Evans stated that the player was happy to discuss a move back to the North West as the Magpies are expected to make a move for another midfielder in the very near future with speculation rife concerning the immediate future of Manchester United and England centre Nicky Butt who has been linked with Newcastle throughout the summer.
The medical finalities of the move for Speed are expected to be completed later today although it is said that the player will not be travelling to Portugal to take part in the Wanderers pre-season games against Sporting Lisbon and Vitoria Setubal having only just recently returned to England following a spell in the Far East on tour with the Toon Army.
"Gary had a year left on his contract but there were two very big First Division clubs and three
"Club terms were agreed over the last couple of days and we were given permission to come to Bolton to discuss terms. This has been agreed now so it's just a medical left." Evans said
Pending completion I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Gary to the club on behalf of the BoltonMAD team.